Luna and Orion Nebula - 03/04/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-03-04 22:39:40 Permalink

Here's an image I put together tonight of Orion Nebula. This is 4 images plus one dark frame stacked in The Gimp.


1 @ 60 seconds, 3 @ 30 seconds, 1 @ 30 second dark frame, ISO 1600:

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And one of the moon. This one is 10 images stacked in The Gimp:



Click here for large, original image


Tags: moon astrophotography nebula orion || 0 comments

Lunar X Is Back Posted by: Stephen - 2009-03-03 21:06:59 Permalink

Just took this image (with 6" reflector and 2x barlow) of the X feature that is of interest to a lot of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers when the moon is at the current phase.



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ISS Crossing Disk of Sun - 03/02/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-03-02 09:35:15 Permalink

Finally captured the ISS crossing the disk of the sun this morning at 8:10 am over the north Georgia mountains, about 20 miles east of Talking Rock, GA. Here's an animation of four images.



Click here to view large image >>


And single frames...

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Comet Lulin and Satellite - 03/01/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-03-02 01:08:28 Permalink

Finally got a chance to test out my new 55-200mm Nikkor ED VR lens. Here's an animation of lulin and a satellite passing to the left. I believe this is a mid-earth orbiting satellite, but I don't have time to research at the moment. I know it's not a low-earth orbiting version because these frames are at 200mm zoom, from 1.5 to 2 minutes long and the satellite hardly moves.



Full-res version >>


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Orion Wide Field Stack Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-25 22:06:56 Permalink

Just finished stacking 4 x 300 second captures of Orion from the 19th. Among other DSOs (if you know where to look) is the Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula.



Click here to view the large, full-res wide field capture.



Tags: nebula orion || 0 comments

Comet Lulin, Saturn and Orion Nebula Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-24 01:38:51 Permalink

Spent a good deal of time out in the cold tonight viewing Orion nebula, and then the Saturn/Lulin show which was an awesome sight! I did manage to get a few nice captures of each. Took me quite a while to get the scope aligned as I have yet to purchase a polar alignment scope. I think that will be something I am going to order this weekend.


Orion Nebula through my 6" reflector and Nikon D60 at prime focus (ISO 1600 @ 30 seconds):

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Comet Lulin next to Saturn using stock D60 lens at 55mm (ISO 1600 @ 299 seconds):

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Comet Lulin through my 6" reflector and D60 at prime focus (ISO 3200 @ 328 seconds):

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Tags: nebula lulin orion comet saturn || 0 comments

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite - 02/23/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-23 19:35:28 Permalink

Just captured the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) satellite passing over Orion. Large image provides the best view.



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Comet Lulin - 02/20/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-20 03:38:12 Permalink

Captured a few nice images of Lulin tonight with the Nikon D60 from Talking Rock, GA. It was extremely cold out there! I'm still trying to get warm after 30 minutes inside. Weather.com says 27, feels like 20...that's freakin cold when you're just standing there next to the scope! Yell


Anyway, the first is of Lulin at 55mm:

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Next is one at 18mm:

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And finally one through my 6" reflector at prime focus (it was too cold to properly align, so there's a bit of trailing):

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Orion Capture and Chuanxin1-02 Rocket - 02/19/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-19 23:18:53 Permalink

First light with my new Nikon D60. Captured the Chuanxin1-02 Rocket passing over the north Georgian mountains this evening. If anyone has any information on this sattelite please post a reply. There's no way the D40 would have captured this.



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Also captured Orion with a three minute exposure at ISO 1600:

Full Image


Tags: nebula orion chuanxin sattelite || 0 comments

Venus at Sunset - 02/16/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-16 18:58:41 Permalink

Just finished cleaning the sensor on my Nikon D40 so I thought Venus might make a good target for testing if all dust particles were removed. The images turned out rather nice, but the true test will be ewhen I capture the ISS in front of the sun on the 18th. Laughing


Venus from Talking Rock, GA (25mm - ISO 800 - 3 second exposure):
Venus
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Venus from Talking Rock, GA (55mm - ISO 800 - 3 second exposure):
Venus
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Orion Capture - 02/15/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-16 00:30:18 Permalink

Took some shot tonight (very clear sky) of Orion and Ursa Major. Mainly trying to find a good setting to capture comet Lulin as soon as the moon allows for proper imaging. I had the D40 "piggybacked" on my Celestron C4 equatorial mount with motor drive for tracking.


Orion (nebula turned out well) captured with Nikon D40, 55mm lens with a single 4 minute exposure. Note: This is a crop, click on medium or large to view entire image.

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Tags: nebula orion || 0 comments

Full Moon and Regulus - 02/09/2009 Posted by: Stephen - 2009-02-10 17:38:51 Permalink

Took some images of the full mon last night. They turn out pretty well as the moon was close to Regulus. Laughing


First is one I took of the moon rising above Kennesaw, GA:

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Next, a couple shots of the moon next to Regulus and Algieba (upper left).

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This one is zoomed in on the moon and Regulus:

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